Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events, Quiddity Advisors

David Blennerhassett

Pan-Asia Catalysts/Events

Quiddity Advisors

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>Back on the 12th May, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kakaku-com-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7408:1" rel="noopener">Kakaku.com (2371 JP)</a> recommended EQT's Offer at ¥3,000/share. On the 14th May, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ly-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:19603:1" rel="noopener">LY (4689 JP)</a> submitted an initial bid at ¥3,232/share, contingent on due diligence.</li>
<li>The Nikkei flagged yesterday <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/digital-garage-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13747:1" rel="noopener">Digital Garage (4819 JP)</a>, 20.68% shareholder of Kakaku, will not accept LY's bid for what appears spurious reasons. </li>
<li>Kakaku's share price is holding; whereas DG's are down 29% since the middle of last month. The discount to NAV has widened to 65%. The implied stub has cratered. </li>
</ul>


Back on the 12th May, Kakaku.com (2371 JP) recommended EQT's Offer at ¥3,000/share. On the 14th May, LY (4689 JP) submitted an initial bid at ¥3,232/share, contingent on due diligence.
The Nikkei flagged yesterday Digital Garage (4819 JP), 20.68% shareholder of Kakaku, will not accept LY's bid for what appears spurious reasons. 
Kakaku's share price is holding; whereas DG's are down 29% since the middle of last month. The discount to NAV has widened to 65%. The implied stub has cratered. 


Digital Garage Is The Wrong Price As It (Reportedly) Dings LY's Tilt

Travis Lundy

<ul>
<li>On Friday, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona Group (2168 JP)</a> announced its expected use of funds into the May 2024 results, including a special dividend plan, investment for growth, and "strengthening the operating platform."</li>
<li>The plan will disappoint. The stock may get hit hard. The truth is somewhere in the middle. This is where active stewardship matters. So get stewarding.</li>
<li>A special div paid over 5yrs should be paid one-shot, now. If the company has plans worth supporting, set KPIs now, ask for money later. Good plans get good money.</li>
</ul>


On Friday, Pasona Group (2168 JP) announced its expected use of funds into the May 2024 results, including a special dividend plan, investment for growth, and "strengthening the operating platform."
The plan will disappoint. The stock may get hit hard. The truth is somewhere in the middle. This is where active stewardship matters. So get stewarding.
A special div paid over 5yrs should be paid one-shot, now. If the company has plans worth supporting, set KPIs now, ask for money later. Good plans get good money.


Pasona (2168 JP) Special Div - Too Small to Matter

<ul>
<li>Today, the day before the previously extended <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/m3-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:13316:1" rel="noopener">M3 Inc (2413 JP)</a> Partial Tender Offer for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/benefit-one-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14502:1" rel="noopener">Benefit One Inc (2412 JP)</a> was due to expire, M3 extended it another 20 days.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dai-ichi-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1109:1" rel="noopener">Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP)</a> several days ago extended their expected start date by weeks - from mid-January to early February. </li>
<li>The wording in the new <a href="https://corporate.m3.com/assets.ctfassets.net/1pwj74siywcy/4uecKStlttjhRmZYyPSB6C/944bc5119e67c0b1780c24aac8936476/Public_E_20240116.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">document</a> from M3 is curious. It bears examination. As does the strategy positioning and choice of each of the participants. </li>
</ul>


Today, the day before the previously extended M3 Inc (2413 JP) Partial Tender Offer for Benefit One Inc (2412 JP) was due to expire, M3 extended it another 20 days.

Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP) several days ago extended their expected start date by weeks - from mid-January to early February. 
The wording in the new document from M3 is curious. It bears examination. As does the strategy positioning and choice of each of the participants. 


<ul>
<li>Today, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dai-ichi-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1109:1" rel="noopener">Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP)</a>  announced a proposed counter/over-bid for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/benefit-one-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14502:1" rel="noopener">Benefit One Inc (2412 JP)</a>. ¥1800/share for minorities and a better (undefined) outcome for <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona Group (2168 JP)</a>. </li>
<li>This throws the cat amongst the pigeons as it is unsolicited, for 100% not just to get Pasona's stake, and it will require Benefit One recommend or not.</li>
<li>For Pasona, this deal structure would likely increase the net result from the stake sale, possibly substantially so. It's in the details. </li>
</ul>


Today, Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP)  announced a proposed counter/over-bid for Benefit One Inc (2412 JP). ¥1800/share for minorities and a better (undefined) outcome for Pasona Group (2168 JP). 
This throws the cat amongst the pigeons as it is unsolicited, for 100% not just to get Pasona's stake, and it will require Benefit One recommend or not.
For Pasona, this deal structure would likely increase the net result from the stake sale, possibly substantially so. It's in the details. 


New Deal for Benefit One (2168) Could Mean Lots More Money for Pasona (2168)

<ul>
<li>Today post-close, life insurer <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dai-ichi-life-insurance" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1109:1" rel="noopener">Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP)</a> announced plans to launch a Tender Offer to buy out all minorities in <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/benefit-one-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14502:1" rel="noopener">Benefit One Inc (2412 JP)</a> at ¥1,800/share. </li>
<li>M3's Partial (55%) Tender at ¥1,600/share ending next week is obviously a question. </li>
<li>This is GREAT news for M&amp;A in Japan. It's good for holders of Benefit One and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/pasona-group-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15778:1" rel="noopener">Pasona Group (2168 JP)</a> too.</li>
</ul>


Today post-close, life insurer Dai Ichi Life Insurance (8750 JP) announced plans to launch a Tender Offer to buy out all minorities in Benefit One Inc (2412 JP) at ¥1,800/share. 
M3's Partial (55%) Tender at ¥1,600/share ending next week is obviously a question. 
This is GREAT news for M&amp;A in Japan. It's good for holders of Benefit One and Pasona Group (2168 JP) too.


Dai-Ichi Life (8750) Proposes a Full Takeover of Benefit One (2412), Overbidding M3

Japan

Pasona Group Inc. manages companies that provide placement and staffing services for clients in the information technology sector.

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Pasona Group (2168 JP)

Digital Garage Is The Wrong Price As It (Reportedly) Dings LY's Tilt

Whether EQT steps up to match LY and/or EQT/LY jostle for control, Digital Garage (4819 JP) appears bombed out here. EQT's buyback tender Offer is...

David Blennerhassett

Pasona (2168 JP) Special Div - Too Small to Matter

Pasona announced a special div and plans to spend the rest of the Benefit One windfall on "growing and improving". The dividend is split over 5yrs,...

Travis Lundy

Benefit One (2412): The Plot Thickens

Dai-Ichi Life extended its "expected Tender launch" by a couple of weeks about 5 days ago. That went past M3's TOB end. BenefitOne asked them to...

Travis Lundy

New Deal for Benefit One (2168) Could Mean Lots More Money for Pasona (2168)

Dai-Ichi Life proposed a full takeout of Benefit One which would lead to a different structured sale by Pasona. The structure of that sale would...

Travis Lundy

Dai-Ichi Life (8750) Proposes a Full Takeover of Benefit One (2412), Overbidding M3

Dai Ichi Life launches a last-minute overbid for all of Benefit One (2412), gazumping the M3 deal. This puts Benefit One's Board in a quandary. But...

Travis Lundy

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